Meaning & use
chronological sequence
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Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
the order in which events happen, from earliest to latest
Grammar: Often used after 'in': in chronological sequence. It can also follow 'a' or 'the'.
Patterns
- in chronological sequence
- a chronological sequence of events
- arrange something in chronological sequence
The report lists the events in chronological sequence, starting with the first phone call.
To understand the story, you need to follow the chronological sequence of the main events.
The museum displays the photographs in chronological sequence from 1900 to 1950.
phrasecountable
a series of related things arranged by time rather than by importance
Grammar: Can be used with 'a' when referring to one such series: a chronological sequence of letters.
Patterns
- a chronological sequence of something
- present something as a chronological sequence
The biography presents the letters as a chronological sequence, so you can see how the writer's ideas changed.
Her notes form a chronological sequence of the project's development.
Common combinations
- in chronological sequence
- Please arrange the files in chronological sequence.
- follow the chronological sequence
- The film does not follow the chronological sequence of the novel.
- a chronological sequence of events
- The police tried to establish a chronological sequence of events.
- out of chronological sequence
- The chapters are presented out of chronological sequence to create suspense.
Synonyms and how they differ
- chronological order
- Very close in meaning, but often used for the way things are arranged for a reader or viewer, while 'chronological sequence' emphasizes the actual time order of events.
- timeline
- A visual or written line showing when events happened; it is a noun for the display, not the abstract order itself.
Word family
- chronologically adverb
- In a way that follows the order of time.
- chronology noun
- The study or arrangement of events in time order.
Commonly confused: chronological sequence or chronological order?
chronological sequence vs chronological order
These are often used in the same way, but 'order' can also mean a logical arrangement, while 'sequence' stresses one thing after another.
Practice
The teacher asked us to put the historical events in ______ sequence.
Choose one answer.
'Chronological' is the adjective needed before the noun 'sequence'. 'Chronology' is a noun, 'chronologically' is an adverb, and 'chronologer' is a rare noun for a person.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “chronological sequence”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.